PAN Card Download —
Free e-PAN in Minutes
Download your e-PAN free from the income tax portal with just Aadhaar and an OTP, open the password-protected PDF, and use the legally valid e-PAN for KYC, ITR and GST.
You can download your e-PAN free from incometax.gov.in → Instant e-PAN → Check Status / Download e-PAN using your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. The downloaded PDF is password-protected — the password is your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format (e.g. 15 March 1985 → 15031985). The e-PAN is a digitally signed, QR-coded document that is legally equivalent to a physical PAN card. NSDL (Protean) and UTIITSL also let you download it, free within a short window and for a nominal ~Rs 8.26 fee afterwards.
The instant e-PAN service on incometax.gov.in is free. Third-party sites that charge Rs 200-500 to "download your PAN" are unnecessary — use only the official income tax portal, or the NSDL/Protean and UTIITSL portals, where the fee is only a nominal ~Rs 8.26 after the free download window.
PAN Card Download — Portal Comparison
Three official routes to download your PAN. The income tax portal is free; which of NSDL/UTIITSL you use usually depends on where you originally applied.
| Portal | Fee | Requires | Format | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| incometax.gov.in (instant e-PAN) | Free | Aadhaar + OTP | QR PDF | Instant |
| NSDL / Protean (onlineservices.nsdl.com) | Free → ~Rs 8.26 | PAN / Aadhaar + OTP | QR PDF | Instant |
| UTIITSL (pan.utiitsl.com) | Free → ~Rs 8.26 | PAN + DOB | QR PDF | Instant |
| Physical PAN reprint (NSDL/UTIITSL) | ~Rs 50–110 | Application + ID | Card by post | 15–20 days |
The free window on NSDL/Protean and UTIITSL is limited (typically shortly after allotment/update); verify the current fee on the portal before downloading.
How to Download e-PAN from the Income Tax Portal
The fastest free route needs nothing but your Aadhaar (linked to an active mobile) and an OTP. No login or password is required to start.
- Aadhaar number handy
- Mobile linked to Aadhaar & active
- Access to the OTP on that mobile
- Date of birth (for the PDF password)
- A PDF reader (Adobe) to open the file
- PAN number, if downloading via UTIITSL/NSDL
If your PAN is active and you have merely misplaced the physical card, you do not need to order a paid reprint for digital use. Download the free e-PAN from the income tax portal and use it for bank KYC, ITR filing and GST — it is legally valid. Order a physical reprint only if a specific office insists on the plastic card.
Stuck on OTP, mismatch or a new PAN application?
Get PAN Help →e-PAN PDF Password & Common Errors
The e-PAN PDF is encrypted. The password is your Date of Birth in DDMMYYYY format — eight digits, no spaces or slashes.
| Date of Birth | PDF Password |
|---|---|
| 15 March 1985 | 15031985 |
| 01 January 2000 | 01012000 |
| 09 December 1992 | 09121992 |
For a non-individual PAN (company/firm), the password is the date of incorporation/formation in the same DDMMYYYY format.
Double-check the DOB exactly as recorded against your PAN (not your Aadhaar if they differ). Open the PDF in a proper reader such as Adobe Acrobat rather than inside a browser preview. If it still fails, re-download a fresh copy from the portal, or contact the NSDL/Protean or UTIITSL helpline.
Use e-PAN when
- You need PAN for ITR, GST or bank KYC now
- Your physical card is lost or damaged
- You want an always-available digital copy
- A QR-verifiable PDF is accepted
Order a physical card when
- A specific office insists on the plastic card
- You need to update name / DOB (use a correction, not just a download)
- You never received the original card after applying
Is e-PAN Legally Valid — and Getting a New / Duplicate PAN
A Gazette notification (2018) recognises the e-PAN as legally equivalent to a physical PAN. It carries a QR code with encrypted details for instant verification and is accepted for bank KYC, income tax and GST. If you do not yet have a PAN, apply first; if the card is lost, you can either download the free e-PAN or order a reprint.
- New PAN: apply via NSDL/Protean (Form 49A) or UTIITSL, or get an instant e-PAN free on the income tax portal if you have Aadhaar with an active mobile and no existing PAN.
- Duplicate / reprint: your PAN number stays the same; order a reprint via NSDL/UTIITSL for a new physical card, or just download the e-PAN for digital use.
- Correction: to change name, DOB or spelling, file a PAN correction application — a download alone will not fix wrong details.
- Aadhaar link: keep PAN–Aadhaar linking current, or the PAN can become inoperative and downloads/OTP may fail.
PAN identifies a taxpayer; TAN is a separate number required by anyone who deducts TDS. You cannot use one in place of the other — a business often needs both a PAN and a TAN.
Need a new PAN, a correction, or PAN–Aadhaar linking sorted?
Talk to a TaxClue Expert →PAN Card Download — Frequently Asked Questions
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